Major league teams are not allowed to dissuade players from participating in the World Baseball Classic. The event is supposed to be a showcase of the sport’s best.

That doesn’t mean they can’t be irate when one of their players opts to participate. The Los Angeles Dodgers are one of those teams now that shortstop Hanley Ramirez has made the Dominican Republic roster.

Ramirez might really want the honor, and there is nothing stopping him from playing, but the Dodgers can’t be happy. They want Ramirez to become reacquainted with his natural position, shortstop, and move him off third base, where he is more suited to play at this point in his career.

The Dodgers are one of the favorites to reach the World Series, but they need to shore up their infield defense. That includes working Ramirez hard during spring training so he can become at least a serviceable shortstop, something he has never really been except for maybe 2009 when he had two Defensive Runs Saved and a minus-0.2 Ultimate Zone Rating.

He struggled in 56 starts at short last season for the Dodgers after being acquired from the Miami Marlins. Ramirez stepped in while Dee Gordon was out with an injury.

Ramirez won’t get any reps at shortstop while he’s with the Dominican team. Jose Reyes, who forced Ramirez to third when he signed with the Miami Marlins last offseason, will be the primary shortstop. Los Angeles Angels shortstop Erik Aybar will be his backup.

That leaves Ramirez as a designated hitter, just as he was during winter ball because of a minor shoulder injury which also prevented him from working at short as the Dodgers wanted.

The Dominican Republic looks to be a favorite to advance to the WBC final; if that happens, Ramirez could be away from the Dodgers from around the start of March until the final weekend. The championship game is March 19 in San Francisco’s AT&T Park.

That would leave Ramirez with maybe two weeks to work with Dodgers coaches before reporting to the Dominican team, and maybe another week before opening day.

If that is the case, the team might opt to keep Ramirez at third to start the season and put Luis Cruz at shortstop. Cruz is a more reliable fielder than Ramirez, but he isn’t ideal at the position either. Gordon is almost certain to start the season in the minors.